hoffman



(No Model.)

J. HOFFMAN.

PENCIL 0R GRAYON HOLDER.

No. 326,737. Patented Sept..22, l885.

XM. MM

N. PETERS, PhnmLixhogmpher. washingwn. D.C.

trice.

' AfrnNr JOSEPH HOFFMAN, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO GUSTAVUS A. GOLDSMITH, OF SAME PLAGE.

PENCIL OR CRAYON HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 326,737, dated September 22, 1885.

Application filed March 12, 18%5.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it lknown that l, JosnPr-r HOFFMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pencil or Lead or Crayon Holders, of which the following is a specification. l Y My invention relates to that class of pencils or lead and crayon holders in which clamping-jaws (in combination with a sleeve or sheath and a lead or crayon containing tube) are contracted or closed upon or caused to hold the lead or crayon subjected to their action by the movement longitudinally of the sleeve or sheath relative to the jaws, or vice versa; and

my invention, more specically stated, consists in combining, with the above-recited parts, mechanism for holding the lead or crayon both in its projected and retracted position and for feeding the same, this mechanism being placed within the lead-containing tube.

Among the advantages secured by my invention are, first, definite retention of thelead or crayon in its projected position when in use, whereby its backward slipping, consequent upon dulling or weakening of the clampingjaws or shaving of the lead, is avoided; second, a positive feed without danger of losing` the lead, and third, avoidance of the direct nipping action of the jaws upon the lead or crayon, which frequently occasions its fracture.

In the drawings like referenceletters indicate like parts in all the figures.

Figure l illustrates a pencil-holder embodying my invention, the external sheath or sleeve, with its trimmings, being shown in longitud` inal central section, and thelead-holding mechanism projected ready for use, this mechanism, the tube which contains it, the actuatingspring, and the clamping-jaws being shown in plan view. Fig. 2illustrates the same pencilholder shown in Fig. l, thelead-holding mechanism being retracted, and all the parts being shown in longitudinal central section, with the exception of the lead holding mechanism, which is shown in plan view. Both of these figures are-somewhat enlarged from the size of an actual pencitholder, the better to illustrate the several parts, their construction and combination.

(No model.)

A is the outer sheath or case. It may be made of wood, metal, rubber, paper, or any other suitable material. In the pencil-holder shown in the drawings it is formed of a tubular hard rubber body, c, provided with a metal tip, b, which may be contracted at its forward end where it engages with the clamping-jaws. lt is attached to the hard-rubber part in any suitable manner.

B is the lead-containing tube or receiver, formed of metal in the present instance, and it should preferably be made of metal, although I do notlimit myself to such material. It carries at its front end the clalnpingj a'ws C, which in the instance illustrated are made integral with the body of the tube B. These jaws have normally a slight spring away from each other, so that when projected from the end of the pencil they separate, and are so constructed as to nip or bite the lead or crayon placed between them. They are formed externally with a taper or inclined part, c. These parts are so constructed and adj usted to each other that when the jaws are retracted the front end of the sheath (shown at b) will act on the inclined surfaces c and close the jaws firmly upon the lead or crayon holding device projecting between them, the end of the jaws being outside of the sheath. Encircling the rear end of the tube B isa spiral or other suitable spring, d, one end of which bears against the shoulder formed by the forward end, c, of a small metal cap, f', fastened on the extreme rear end of the tube B,and the front end of the spring bears against a shoulder, g, formed on a sleeve or lining, 72, attached to the inside of the sheath A, and which projects somewhat beyond the rcarend of the sheath A, as seen at t', for the sake of giving that end of the sheath a finished appearance. The cap f and the sleeve L are both preferably made of metal. The cap f moves with the tube B, which carries thejaws O, sliding smoothly within the sleeve h, and at the forward end the metal tip b should preferably be so contracted at the part marked b that it will properly guide and support the tube B. rlhe stop K, formed upon the tube B, takes a bearing against the shoulder g of the sleeve or lining h, and limits the rearward action of the spring d. It works in a slot formed in the front end of the sleeve 71 thus IOO also-preventing rotation of thetube B relative to the sheath A.

h Within the tube B is placed the lead-holding mechanism. This consists of the leadreceiving tube and feeding devices of an ordinary. propelling-pencil, (shown at F5) and it is provided with the usual rotatable tip, j', which engages with the usual internalv tube and follower with threaded exterior, which engages with threads formed on the inside of the outer tube, F,all as usual in propellingpencils, and which do not require more specific description or illustration here. In one side of the tube B, I form a slot, h2, (seen in Fig. 1,) in which travels a lug or ear,'h', formed on the rear end of theexternal tube of the lead-holding device F. This lugis so located on the lead-holding device relative to the slot h that when it is in contact with the forward end or shoulder of the slot the lead held by theholding device will be in its proper projeeted position, and so that the jaws C will release of the spring d, close upon the leadholding device behind alittle collar, 7c,formed on the extreme forward end of the external tube of the lead-holding device, thus securely clamping the same and holding it and the lead held by it firmly in the proper projected positionvfor' use; and the slot h2 is made of such length that when the lead-holder is retracted it and the projecting end of the lead held by it may drop entirely within the jaws C before the lug h strikes the back end of the slot. The lug lt, in addition to its above-recited function, prevents rotation of the external tube F of the propelling lead-holder upon twisting the tip f for feeding the lead. The lead is shown at X. y It is inserted at the front end of the tip f, as usual in propellingpencils.

The operation is as follows: Assuming the propelling lead-holder to be retracted within the tube B, by pressing on the cap f', the tube B will be pushed forward against the stress of the spring b, thus projecting thejaws C, which then, springing apart, allow the propelling lead-holder bearing thelead to drop, the pencil being held with the lead end down, until the lug h comes in contact with the forward shoulder or end of the slot h2, which stops the lead-holder. The pressure upon the cap f is theny released, and the spring d,retracting the lead tube B,carries the propelling lead-holder F with it until the jaws C, being contracted by the tip b of the sleeve or sheath, close in behind the collar or shoulder 7c and securely lock the several devices maintaining the lead firmly held in the propelling-holder F in the projected position suitablel for use.` When it is desired to retract the lead, the pencil-holder is held with the lead upward, and pressure is applied to the cap f. The parts are again acted upon as before. The jaws relax their hold upon the propelling lead-holder, which then immediately drops within the tube B, carrying the lead x entirely within the jawsO until the lug h comes in contact with the rear end ofthe slot h2. Thepressure being then removed from the cap f, the jaws C are again closed, and the lead and its propelling and holding device are all inclosed within' the tube B and held therein by closing of the jaws.

It is obvious to one skilled in this art that many changes may be made in the location and relative adjustment of the parts above shown and described, and that various equivalent devices may be used instead of those shown and still my invention be employed. I do not, therefore, limit myself to the details either of construction or arrangement shown.

upon their retraction, consequent upon the j I claim-- 1. The combination, in a lead or crayon holder, o'f'a case or sheath, expanding jaws tapered or provided with projections acted on by thecase or sheath to. produce the closing of the jaws, and provided with an extension beyond the end of the case opposite the jaws, whereby the jaws may be pressed outwardly from the case, a spring which automatically nally, and a lead-holding device provided with a stop or stops to limit its movement inwardly and outwardly, placed between the jaws and retained in place by them both in its extended and retracted position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, in a lead or crayon holder, of a case or sheath, expanding jaws acted on by the case or sheath to produce the closing of the jaws and provided with an extension beyond the end of the case opposite .9o moves the jaws relative to the case longitudi- ICO the jaws, whereby the jaws may be rpressed outwardly from the case, a spring which rautomatically moves the jaws relative to the case longitudinally, and a lead holding device placed between the jaws and retained in place by them, both in its extended and retracted position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 7th day ot March, A. D. 1885.

JosnPH HOFFMAN'.

Vitnesses:

JOHN H. Ivns, Snnnwoon W. CONNELL.

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